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How to drain engine coolant?

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Old 06-11-08, 05:49 PM
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How to drain engine coolant?

Im in the process of doing an overhaul on my cooling system and I have a few questions. I am draining all of the coolant out of my Koyo radiator right now, but I'm not sure how to get the rest of the old coolant out of the block. Im trying to get this thing bone dry so I can run mostly water, because of the 100+ degree weather out. My water pump is good so theres no need to replace that, but I'm doing my t-stat. Also my radiator cap is a bit on the old side, so I would like to change that aswell. The only problem with this is when I searched I could not get a straight answer on weather to use a 13 or 16psi cap. Mine has some japanese writing on it and a .9 so I think thats 13 but I'm not sure. Any cooling experts out there?
Old 06-11-08, 05:51 PM
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On the driver side of the block theres a 14mm brass thing stickout of from the engine mount. This is the drain plug for the block.
Old 06-11-08, 06:10 PM
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Right under the oil filter? Any idea on the radiator cap psi?
Old 06-11-08, 06:41 PM
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13psi.

its under the oil FILLER tube at the bottom of the center iron inside of the driver side engine mount.
Old 06-11-08, 07:32 PM
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can we use the 16 psi cap? will it aid in cooling? especially if we are running mostly water? higher bp and all that.
Old 06-11-08, 07:42 PM
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A higher Cap rating will prevent the Engine's Cooling system from "purging" when it is overheating..so If the Cap doesn't Let the Pressure out,it will another way,In the form of Blowing a Coolant seal....Draining: I get Lazy,I just Pop a Lower rad hose and Let it Run out..replace..Throw some water in,run a minute and Pop it again..Then Fill with appropriate coolant.
Old 06-11-08, 07:46 PM
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Mazdaspeed says up to 17-18 PSI is ok, but don't go over that.
Old 06-11-08, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 93rx74lyfe
Im trying to get this thing bone dry so I can run mostly water, because of the 100+ degree weather out.
Running mostly water will just cause your engine to overheat faster. A 50/50 mixture gives the best protection..... hot or cold.
Old 06-11-08, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by arad99
Running mostly water will just cause your engine to overheat faster. A 50/50 mixture gives the best protection..... hot or cold.
False!
Old 06-11-08, 08:14 PM
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water has better cooling properties than coolant.
Old 06-12-08, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by ilike2eatricers
water has better cooling properties than coolant.
Thats what I've been told.
Old 06-12-08, 02:48 PM
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2.5 times better.
Old 06-12-08, 03:56 PM
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DAMN!! now I have another annoying problem. I broke one of the studs off at the t-stat neck. I guess I have to drill and tap it out. ******* old *** bolts!
Old 06-12-08, 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by arad99
Running mostly water will just cause your engine to overheat faster. A 50/50 mixture gives the best protection..... hot or cold.
Protection from corrosion yes, but water is a better heat exchanger than Ethylene glycol.
Old 06-12-08, 06:21 PM
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if you run disstilled water then should be ok.. i never ran all water, but my mixes usually are mostly water
Old 06-12-08, 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Valkyrie
Mazdaspeed says up to 17-18 PSI is ok, but don't go over that.
Got a Link to that?
Old 06-12-08, 06:27 PM
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isint it the minerals in the water that makes it bad like tap water . but acouple cheap gallons from the supermarket shuold be okay?
Old 06-12-08, 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ATRON3000
Got a Link to that?
No... you have to be a Mazda Motorsports member to get to that info, although it might be in the mazdaspeed catalog that you can access even if you're not a member.
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